And Unto Us a Child is Born -- Happy Birthday, Jesus!

The birthday celebration is on – as children everywhere are running to see what Santa brought them last night. For them, it’s all about the presents and for those of us who know better -- it’s about God’s greatest present EVER – His beloved Son. That’s how He celebrates His Son’s birth-day – giving us His perfect gift! Oh, Happy Day!

If you follow my blogs at all, you’ve heard that this Christmas is very different for our family this year. We aren’t making our trek to Austin to celebrate together with my son and family because the press is on to get this Frisco family moved from their home that sold – right here at Christmas – and into their new place by December 27th.

We are missing some Christmas traditions because we’re not all together, but one tradition wasn’t missed -- our Christmas Eve tradition of reading the REAL Christmas story together. Thank God we live in this technology era. This year, I bequeathed to my son our beloved “The First Christmas Story” book that Papa always read from on Christmas Eve. He stepped up to be our family’s patriarch to take over where Papa left off. So at 9 pm we gathered together in my home here in Frisco and the other side gathered together in Austin and we heard this greatest story ever told again. We all still savor this tradition of making the Reason for the Season the principal thing. It’s a story we should never get tired of hearing. A King in heaven coming down to be our humble King on earth to be familiar with us earthlings as one of us and Who gave us treasures of faith, hope, love, peace, joy and most of all, His life, so that we can live forever with Him.

Earlier yesterday afternoon, my Frisco family and a couple of friends joined me at my church’s Christmas Eve Mass. It was beautiful. Children were singing, families were joined together in honor of this magnificent night when Christ was born. How honored I was to serve communion – the Body and Blood of this Savior Who came to us as a newborn and Who, in a matter of just three years of ministry, turned our world upside down with His rock-the-world teachings. “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! Pray for them who spitefully use you, and persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44)

Maybe, this Christmas morning you're having your traditional family breakfast and opening Santa's presents and seeing what he left everyone in their stockings.....no longer hung with care. Now they're on the floor, stuffed full of goodies and treasures. Santa's cookie plate only has a few crumbs left.

Oh, the joy of hearing children's laughter and the thrill of Christmas in their eyes. If your children are grown, enjoy the sweet memories of past Christmases. If you are missing children and loved ones today, spend Christmas with God's Son praising and thanking Him for coming to be one of us. And if your loved one is in heaven, like mine is, we can know with certainty that he or she is having the most joyful Christmas possible and a day will come when we’ll forever celebrate Christmas together -- forever!

Christmas and the tangible gifts we receive from friends and loved ones are temporary. But the gifts that heaven brings us are eternal. I hope you will receive all that Jesus was born to give. May your Christmas be blessed with God's greatest gift of love: "For God so loved you and me that He gave us His one and only son." (John 3:16)

If You Can’t Lick ‘Em – Join ‘Em

It's been "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" for months now. The big box stores have been touting us with their holiday wares since before Spring ended.This year I’m noticing even more folks skipping right over Thanksgiving and putting up their Christmas trees, house lights and decorations. Their home covered in a blanket of snow was all one of my friends needed to get her home all decorated with Christmas. One of the young volunteers who works with me at Children’s Hospital, along with her sister, put up their Christmas tree, fully decorated, while their mom was at work – completely against their mom’s desire to wait until after Thanksgiving.

Time for confession. I caved. Seems I’m still nostalgic with remembering nine years ago when I decorated our home for Christmas before Thanksgiving just before my husband passed away. I had never done that before and never since, but this year I can’t help myself. I've got a mishmosh going on -- Thanksgiving décor mixed with Christmas décor. My family will be getting two great celebration seasons rolled into one when they come in for Thanksgiving next week.

I was amused hearing some folks complaining about the early sales of Christmas decorations and hearing Christmas music playing since back in September. I understand retail stores want their bottom lines increased so they amp it up to get us into the "buying" frenzy way before the Christmas season. I can’t fault them for that. In order to vacate those shelves as quickly as possible, there are already 50% off sales.

Most of us want to embrace each season and make it as memorable as we can. We want to savor Fall with the leaves changing colors, pumpkin spice aromas and coffee, autumn décor. We want to remember the first Thanksgiving and the pilgrims and we want to make the Fall season special and meaningful. But, what's the big deal? Why should it matter when people begin to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas? What matters is that we open our hearts and our homes to gratitude at Thanksgiving and to the joys, delights, and celebrations of Christmas. Actually, both seasons could easily be merged together as one. So, here I am -- on board the early Christmas train!

Both of these beautiful seasons tend to make us more thankful, kinder, and expressing gratitude for God's blessings and for celebrating Christ’s birth. Joy to the world; the Lord has come. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. I’m already allowing myself to get caught up in the miraculous Christmas story as I set out my many manger and Holy Family scenes. And, as I’m embracing and pondering all that Christmas means, when my family is together here in Frisco next week, this mode of thanksgiving, will simply open the door for all the joys and beauty of Christmas.

I've honed into this beautiful journey that will lead to the most Holy Day when our Savior was born – and, it would have been okay if I started way back in July! After all, it’s more than a season or a day. It's our reason for unspeakable joy, indescribable love, and amazing sacrifice – that the ONE Who placed the stars in the sky and Who knows them all by name -- chose to come to this earth as a little baby to be with me, understand me, live in this world like me. He totally gets me and my frailties, but better yet, He is my all powerful, incomparable, awesome and amazing God. That's plenty reason to celebrate all read round! So, the next time we're tempted to complain about "too early", let's turn that around and welcome the reminder to thank God for the Reason for the season. It’s just too great a story to compact it into only one celebration.

Christmas is So Much More

I remember watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with my granddaughter a few years ago. In spite of the Grinch's onery, grumpy and absolutely the WORST attitude when it came to "Christmas spirit" (stealing and destroying anything that represented Christmas), the Whos sang joyfully on Christmas morning. The Grinch, then, had an epiphany, returned the gifts, and joined in the celebration. Now, that's what I call the spirit of Christmas so alive in us, it causes others to want the spirit of Christmas alive in them.

That whole notion of Christmas being stolen by anyone -- including a Scrooge or a Grinch, gets me riled up. How could anyone want to take away, a beautiful, joyful, celebration that brings so much good into this world – and in particular, the Reason for the Season – the birthday of Jesus Christ? I beg to differ with anyone that Christmas could be stolen – they are way too late – it’s in the very fabric of our being.

Joy to the world begins with each of us individually. Joy cannot come without the conscious awareness of the Lord's promised presence wherever we go and whatever we do. Rather than being distracted by the voices rallying to change "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays", our mindset should be to keep our thoughts toward God and allow Him to have the ability to move through our actions.....and reactions. Loving as Christ loved is our responsibility and that's what calms a storm, heals the broken-hearted, and lights of hope are put in the eyes of those who are hopeless.

I’m so grateful that President Trump led the way for us this year when he boldly (as only he can do) declared "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to us! Though governments, emperors and philosophies have tried to destroy Christ and Christmas since His birth and tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth, IT STILL STANDS. It will always be a part of the enemy's tactics -- to try to stamp out the Spirit of Christ -- the Spirit of Christmas. But, it will NEVER be stamped out. He always was, always is, and always will be the REASON FOR THE SEASON -- and NOTHING or NO ONE can change that. And when we get that no matter where and no matter who tries to steal Christmas from us, it just won't matter. Like the Whos, we'll truly maintain the Spirit of Christmas in our hearts and lives as we sing, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."

Rather than my own words, I'll defer to a well known and respected doctor who understood....it's so much MORE!

.

"It came without ribbons.

It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

- Dr. Seuss

Stop, Look and Go Tell

For a short while on Friday, I allowed myself to get caught up in the holiday traffic frenzy and search out Christmas sales that included long check-out lines. I really endeavored to be “holly jolly" with my best attitude while keeping “all is calm, and all is bright” in my heart!

We’re officially in the countdown to Christmas! We’re making our lists and checking them twice. We’re scanning the deals on Amazon and other online sources. We have already hung the stockings on the fireplace mantel, started our Christmas baking….and somewhere in the mix, we ponder our upcoming family times together. Perhaps we’ll soon be headed over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house!

But, please STOP and remember the trek to Bethlehem. If we choose to keep Christ in Christmas –- no matter what else we need to make happen, it is essential we include the storyline of the newlywed couple, Joseph and Mary, their journey to Bethlehem, and, ultimately, the night their baby boy was born.

Today, the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle on the Advent wreath will be lit. It represents faith. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the preparations they made for Jesus’ birth.

Can we even imagine the faith it took for them to set out on a 90-day trip to Joseph’s hometown, Bethlehem, to register in the Roman census? Joseph and Mary undoubtedly had the “essentials” together. After all we know there were swaddling clothes on hand. Talk about responsibility! Imagine the weight on Joseph’s shoulders of taking care of Mary and their soon-to-be-born Son of God.

A 90-mile journey! WHAT? Obstetricians don’t want women to travel by air if the expectant mother is more than 7 months pregnant. Imagine Mary – nearing the end of her pregnancy and having to ride a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

As awful the journey with the discomfort and difficulty, no doubt it was all a part of God's plan given in Jeremiah’s words in verse 29:11 “Oh the plans God has for you, plans to prosper you (think about the gold, frankincense and myrrh wealth they received from the three kings) and not harm you (think about how God ensured Jesus was safe when King Herod put out the edict for the baby boys to be killed), but give you hope and a future.” Think about the hope and future Christ’s life, death and resurrection presented to us!

For many of us, the days leading up to Christmas are among the busiest of the year. We don’t relish interruptions to our plans at any time, and especially not now. Like with the birth of Christ in less than perfect conditions, God uses “stuff” and "situations" to accomplish His purposes.

May I suggest that we purpose to slow down and breathe in the Reason for this Miracle season – stopping, looking and listening for gentle nudges of Father God Who desires for His kids to breathe in the beauty of our Lord’s birth story, and then GO exhale Him to our world that needs His hope, faith, love, joy and peace so very much.

This second Sunday of Advent encourages us to STOP, if only for a few minutes during this busiest time of the year, to think and be thankful for the ONE we are celebrating. Anything that causes us to STOP and think and be thankful is a good addition to Advent, since that’s what Advent is, of course: a time to stop and wait when the world is telling us to go faster and faster!

It will soon be Christmas Day when we will celebrate our Lord’s sacrifice of coming to this earth as a baby AND His coming back to take us home to live with Him throughout all eternity. May we STOP and know the baby in the manger is the Great "I AM"!

And I Think to Myself....What a Wonderful World

It was our first morning home after being in the hospital the two weeks before. Our family had come over the night before and removed our king size bed from our bedroom. We spent our first night home – my Honey, on his new hospital air bed, and me, on a blow-up air mattress beside him…..that the air escaped from in the middle of the night. I added to my “To Do List” for the day….find a twin mattress set as soon as possible. Indeed we would be like Desi and Lucy in our twin beds – I was even contemplating dyeing my hair red.

I can’t even imagine all that must have been going on in my Honey’s head as he looked out our bedroom double windows that were open wide. What a special blessing it was that our bedroom windows faced the little lake that adjoined our back yard (the accompanying picture is that view). It was a beautiful morning. Fall was in the air. The water was smooth as glass, the fish were jumping, and the birds were chirping loudly. Feeling the serenity of the moment calmed us and made us very aware of how blessed we were and how thankful we had to be in spite of our new circumstances that seemed like a bad dream. It was then that the doorbell rang. It was our new Social Worker, Melvin – a beautiful African American man, who exuded the sweetest and most gentle spirit that made us feel God had specially hand-picked him just for us. After asking us many questions, it was our turn to ask about him. When he mentioned that he loved singing in his church’s choir, I told him we'd love for him to sing for us. He didn’t wait to be asked twice. He immediately began singing in the most beautiful baritone voice, Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”. Just imagine our thoughts as we heard these words:

I see trees of green, red roses, too.
I see them bloom for me and you.
And I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white,
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night.
And I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”.

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky,
Are also on the faces of people going by,
I see friends shaking hands, saying "How do you do?"
They're really saying "I love you"

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”.
Yes I think to myself, “what a wonderful world”.

How befitting to hear such words as we had already been sensing that wonderful world as we looked outside at God’s creation, on this, our first morning home. It was another one of those precious times when we knew God was orchestrating our lives.

Right from the beginning of our journey until that day, different ones had quoted Psalm 46:10 to us “Be still and know that I am God.”. In our efforts to help God out with His plans over those previous eight months, we became very busy with many doctors’ appointments, treatments, medications, consultations, surgeries, seeking advice from experts on what to eat or not eat, and so much more. Suddenly, in the quietness of our bedroom, we realized that God was speaking loud and clear to us. He was saying…..”at last….you’re still…now you will know that indeed I AM GOD.” A dear family friend and renown motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, put it this way: “God created us as human beings...not human doings.” We had been “doing” much more than required. Now, we had the opportunity to BE in that place where we really could know God and His character and His profound love for us. We ceased striving and were now pursuing that place of contentment and peace. And in that place, we were expecting that we would be able to accomplish more for God and be used by Him to encourage and help others even more than we did before. That was our hope and greatest desire.

After two weeks at home, my Honey amazed me with his new found way of life. Amazing, in that that highly energetic, multi-talented, could-do-anything, man was always known as a Type A personality – in control with everything about his life, detailed to the inth degree, and was always motivating and encouraging others with the words “no matter what your circumstances are, you can be all God destined you to be….just never give up!” Now he quietly laid in his bed, unable to move his legs and unable to sit up. He occasionally picked up the phone to make or receive a call, check his emails, prayed, listened for God’s voice and called upon me or another to fetch something for him or to adjust his position in the bed. He didn't complain about his new “state” of living. We looked back on the previous nine months of that year when he suffered so much from the pain in his back – pain that was only resolved from strong medications and having to bend over or lie down to cope. Now, though he was obviously bed confined, he wasn't suffering. He looked great – had maintained his weight -- in fact, he “grazed” all day long. God had been so faithful to us in so many practical ways and we recognizedmany of those ways by dear family and friends who were providing such love and care through delicious, homemade meals (our freezer was packed full of food), ran errands for us, and even to the extent that our niece, who would be taking her Licensed Practical Nurse test the next month, had been able to help us with Ron’s care when I had to leave him for a brief period of time.

We absolutely knew that there was a “reason for that season” of our lives. We knew that none of this was a surprise to God. We knew that God was a proud Father that had a plan, a destiny, and a purpose that He specifically designed for each of us to fulfill. We knew that our busy lifestyle had changed and our sovereign God knew what was best for us. We knew God's unfailing love and faithfulness to us like never before. We were not moved by the circumstances we were seeing. We continued to be steadfast, unmovable and unshakened….and were convinced that we were in God's hands and on track in His best plans. Just a month later, my sweetheart was completely made whole. He got to go home -- no hospital beds there -- no pain there -- just a perfect, whole body.

And here on this side.....I still sing and say to myself. "What a wonderful world…what a wonderful God….what a wonderful life!”

Out With Fall, In With Christmas

Day 333 of Photo Inspiration -- Out With Fall, In With CHRISTMAS!!
My sweet kids left for home on Friday, but not before my wonderful son, Larry, completed a page-long "Honey Do" list for me.  And, my precious "adopted" girl, Denise Gerrich​ helped me take down my Fall decor', move it up to the attic, and bring down the Christmas.  And if that wasn't enough, she helped me decorate with outdoor lights, trees, and wreaths, as well as my in-home decor'.  There is no question -- I am blessed beyond what I deserve, which is why Thanksgiving and Gratitude top my "Good Attitude" List.  Little photos of Papa reading the Christmas story to the grandkids are all around my house -- sweet reminders of Christmases past.  And, lots of decor' that go way back too.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas for several months now. I didn't decorate to the extreme, like I once did, when the family came to our house for Christmas.  There was a Christmas tree in every bedroom, the house was decked out with lights and enough decor' to open up a Christmas store.  In fact, Christmas decor' took up half of our attic space.

It was our favorite time of the year.  But, again, seasons change in our lives.   I’ll be heading to Texas to celebrate with my Wallace crew, and then onto Seattle to celebrate with the Wuerch crew -- in just a couple of weeks.  I was feeling the peer pressure in my neighborhood when others began putting up their Christmas lights a couple of weeks ago.  But, my humble little displays still shout -- loud and clear...... "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Today, starts the magnificent season of Advent.  When I was preparing for the talks I'll be giving this week, and the neighbors were putting up their lights, MY Advent season had already begun.  I’m already  enraptured by the miraculous Christmas story -- the UNLIKELY turn of events that altered the course of our past, present and future.  What an easy transition -- to go from Thanksgiving to all the joys and beauties of Christmas.

Though the stores were playing Christmas music a couple of weeks ago, and were selling their Christmas wares....months ago,  it only caused me to hone into the beautiful journey that will lead to the most HOLY AND MIRACULOUS DAY – and, it would have been alright if I started way back in July!

After all, it’s more than a season or a day, it’s about a REASON for unspeakable joy, indescribable love, and amazing sacrifice – that the ONE who placed the stars in the sky and Who knows them ALL by name -- chose to come to this earth as a little baby to be with me, understand me, live in this world like me.  HE totally gets me and my frailties, but better yet, He is my all powerful, incomparable, awesome and GREAT, amazing God. I'd say that's plenty reason to be celebrating ALL YEAR ROUND!   Thank you, all you early Christmas decorators, for the reminder to embrace this season ALL YEAR LONG!  Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love Christmas -- always have, always will -- and the celebrations start the day AFTER Thanksgiving.  It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to listen to Christmas music until AFTER Thanksgiving -- but the day AFTER -- let the "O Holy Night" and "Mary Did You Know?" and "Here Comes Santa Claus" music BEGIN!  Honestly, it’s been my favorite time of the year for as long as I can remember.

I’ve known great joy at Christmas. My daughter was born in December "several" years ago.    But, as just a teenager, I knew heartache at Christmas -- my Dad passed away just eight days before Christmas.  I remember watching my precious mother, through tears, opening up the Christmas presents she had wrapped for him.

But the most precious times have been realized in this season: decorating the house with "memories" -- my "Christmas Church Collection"

and my Kitchen Christmas Tree,

my Mom's ceramic reindeer

and her ceramic lighted tree,

decorating the house with the photos of my two children when they were little to visit Santa,

Papa reading the Christmas Story to the grandkids

(and now displaying photos of those precious times in my Christmas decor').

And, oh, the sweet memories of the children's Christmas programs, taking the children and grandchildren to see Santa, the Talent Shows the kids and grandkids would provide for us each Christmas Eve, the "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake.

But my most favorite part of Christmas.....is the #1 REASON FOR THE SEASON -- just thinking about our Lord coming to this earth as a little baby -- to be one of us -- to know He knows EXACTLY how it feels to hurt, to feel pain, to feel rejection, to feel the joys. He was ALL MAN.  He is ALL GOD and HE SINCERELY GETS US!    I am overwhelmed with emotion for Who He is, what He's done for us, and why He did it.

I share some of my favorite and sweet Christmas treasures with you in these photos. And  I urge you to get caught up in this beautiful time of the year -- with thanksgiving for the MASTER MINDED, GRAND and PERFECT scheme of it all.  As I type this post. I know the PERFECT PLAN became reality.  It isn't a fairy tale story.  It is a REAL FACT!  How do I know?  I sense His presence with me right here, right now!  Indeed He is Emmanuel -- God With Us!